[Parenteral feeding in child surgery. Results of balance studies].

After operations in infancy considerable negative nitrogen balances are regularly observed. Balance examinations have demonstrated that there is a minimal requirement of 300 to 350 mg N in the form of a crystalline amino acid solution for the normalization of the catabolic condition of metabolism. The administration of nitrogen, however, is only reasonable, if simultaneously 60 cal/kg of combustible energy is supplied. In severe surgical diseases and in neonates the metabolic requirements can be twice as high. In such cases, if correctly applied and accompanied by controls of the metabolic condition, parenteral nutrition can be useful and may, therefore, be regarded as one of the greatest progresses of modern medicine.